brushfire

1 of 2

adjective

brush·​fire ˈbrəsh-ˌfī(-ə)r 

: involving mobilization only on a small and local scale

brushfire border wars

brush fire

2 of 2

noun

1

: a fire involving low-growing plants (such as scrub and brush)

2

: a minor conflict or crisis

putting out political brush fires

Examples of brushfire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Frohnmayer was brought in by the Bush Administration to keep what was still a small brush fire from reaching the White House. — Louis Menand, New Yorker, 13 July 2026

Officials briefly issued evacuation orders for some residents in Northern Colorado when a brush fire broke out nearby. — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 13 July 2026

On Tuesday, a police helicopter was hit by a drone while battling a brush fire near the Encino Reservoir in Los Angeles. — Sydney Brammer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2026

Earlier this week, crews battled small blazes in Montecito Heights, Encino and Sylmar, where a brush fire prompted extended lane closures of the 5 Freeway. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1954, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for brushfire

• admire
• afire
• aspire
• backfire
• esquire
• expire
• haywire
• hellfire
• inquire
• inspire
• newswire
• perspire